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Ponoka Big Brothers Big Sisters celebrating 30 years of operations

September is Big Brothers Big Sisters month and the group hopes to gain 30 new mentors
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Ponoka’s Big Brothers Big Sisters is celebrating September and 30 years of operations in this community. There are several big events happening in September. This file photo shows the BBBS bowl-a-thon fundraiser. File photo

Ponoka’s Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) is celebrating 30 years of operations in the community and the group hopes to add 30 mentors to its roster.

September is the best time to do that as it’s also BBBS Month and there are quite a few things planned, explained Beth Reitz, executive director.

“We’ll mentor as many youths as we have mentors,” explained Reitz who added that there is always a need.

“We’ve never had a time where there wasn’t a youth needing a mentor,” added Morgen Chernick, program director.

The mentors needed can be with the traditional community program, or in-school mentoring or even high school mentors working with the grade school kids.

There are a few things occurring this month to celebrate.

First off, a celebration lunch is being held Wednesday, Sept. 12 at the Kinsmen Community Centre. It’s a special jacket potato lunch with all the food and drinks being donated by community organizations.

That same evening, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. a special cake cutting and balloon release will be held at the Ponoka Youth Centre building. This is a big event to celebrate BBBS’s 30th anniversary.

Pat Rowland, the first executive director for the organization, will be in attendance to celebrate the big event, explained Reitz.

“It’s pretty notable for a non profit in a small community to still be in existence,” said Reitz. “That’s pretty exciting for us.”

Chernick said there is also a “Pop of Purple” program where BBBS will be bringing in purple items such as balloons and other decorations. The goal is to encourage businesses to promote that and BBBS will recognize those businesses on social media.

Telus has joined together with BBBS to celebrate the agency’s 30th anniversary as well. Keep an eye out for Telus at the BBBS events for great prizes. They will also donate $25 for every Ponoka resident that signs up for Optik TV, PikTV, Pure Fibre HSIA and/or Telus Home Phone in Ponoka from Sept. 5 to October 15, 2018.